Airmen with the 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron’s petroleum, oil, and lubricant flight at Balad AB, Iraq, have set a record for the highest number of gallons of fuel issued in a single month over the last three years: 3.6 million gallons of fuel by tank truck and R-11 refueling units to every type of aircraft that touched down at the base in January. They also issued more than 220,000 gallons of diesel fuel for support equipment and vehicles at Balad. The airmen refuel other services’ aircraft and vehicles, as well as non-military aircraft. Fuel use has ranged from three to 3.6 million gallons over the past three months.
A new think tank report calls for a buildup of U.S. drones and munitions needed for a potential fight against the Chinese military over Taiwan, thought other experts argue the report is missing some nuance in the munitions equation.
